Predictors of physicians' satisfaction with their management of uncertainty during a decision-making encounter with a simulated advanced stage cancer patient

Abstract

Objectives: To optimize their training, predictors of physicians' satisfaction with their management of uncertainty should be examined. This study investigated these predictors by using a simulated advanced stage cancer patient.

Methods: Physicians (n=85) rated their satisfaction with their management of uncertainty (Visual Analog Scale-100mm) after a decision-making encounter. Communication predictors were examined with the: Observing Patient Involvement scale (OPTION), Multidimensional analysis of Patient Outcome Predictions (MD.POP) and Communication Content Analysis Software (LaComm). Psychological predictors were assessed with the: Intolerance of Uncertainty Inventory (IUI), Physicians' Reactions to Uncertainty scale (PRU), Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS), and Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (JSPE).

Results: Physicians' satisfaction (mean=67mm; standard deviation=17mm) was not predicted by their communication, but by their anxiety due to uncertainty (PRU) (β=-.42; p=<.001) and their perceived empathy (JSPE) (β=.26; p=.009). These variables accounted for 25% of variance in physicians' satisfaction.

Conclusions: Physicians' satisfaction with their management of uncertainty was not affected by their communication performance, but by their psychological characteristics.

Practice implications: Training programs should increase physicians' awareness regarding the communication performance required in decision-making encounters under conditions of uncertainty.

Keywords: Cancer; Communication; Physician; Satisfaction; Simulated patient; Uncertainty.